The biggest event was probably our foundation. Which, let's be honest, is kind of a big deal.
Back in June, Rob handed Oran an operetta called The King's Shadow. It was the very first operetta Rob had ever written and he was so excited that he didn't even edit it. He simply typed it up and handed it over. Later that same day, Rob was horrified when he spotted the errors he'd made, but Oran saw something else entirely: possibility, potential, and opportunity. And just like that, Opera Unhinged was born.
More operas followed. Then chamber works. Then standalone songs. Plans were hatched for a salon. Venues were toured. Artists were recruited. And now, as we head boldly into 2026, Opera Unhinged is ready to start auditioning and presenting the first of many salons and performances.
But it doesn't stop there.
Opera Unhinged began with a simple idea: bring opera to the masses. Within weeks, that idea grew into something much bigger. Why stop at opera? There is so much art out there that people dismiss as "elitist" or think, "That's not for me, " without ever giving it a chance. Often, it's down to preconceptions.
For example: what's the first thing you think of when you hear the word choir? Probably a church. Hymns. Christmas carols.
What you probably don't think of is pop songs performed by choirs or poetry transformed into choral masterpieces.
Take Viva La Vida by Coldplay, performed by the Youth Concert Choir of the Chorakademie in Dortmund. It's absolutely stunning. And it's far from alone. From Madonna to Lady Gaga, pop music and choirs are a surprisingly perfect match.
And if poetry is more your thing, nothing quite compares to hearing words brought to life through choral sound. The Long Day Closes by Arthur Sullivan, performed by VOCES8, is particularly breathtaking.
But what about classical music?
When you hear the word classical, you might picture Mozart or Bach, an audience in formal wear, sitting rigidly in assigned seats while a huge orchestra plays music you're supposed to like conducted by someone energetically waving what appears to be a magic wand.
But what if they were playing music you already love? Movie soundtracks, for instance. Big Star Wars fan? The music of John Williams is frequently performed by the RTÉ Concert Orchestra across the country and it's phenomenal.
This is exactly the kind of experience Opera Unhinged wants to bring to people.
The salons we're planning will feature poetry, vocal works, instrumental music, and visual art, from sculpture to painting and beyond, all centred around a theme and often reimagined through a modern lens. Why should any art form be considered exclusive?
The operas we've written certainly aren't. They tackle modern stories and themes:
LGBTI+ relationships in a royal court.
Sex workers on neon-lit streets.
A family Zoom call during lockdown.
A murder mystery set in a drag club on talent-show night.
And this is just the beginning.
The plans ahead are bold, inclusive, and unapologetically ambitious, because appealing to the masses isn't just a hope. It's the goal.
So here's to 2026 and to everything Opera Unhinged is about to unleash.